i. V ).<V\ BRANCH — RO Y AL * AS t AT I C SOCIETY". L3* 



duates of the university, and admitted on their theological 

 examination as proponents, rendered occasional services to 

 the fixed ministers by taking a turn in preaching, and 

 sometimes acted in cases of vacancy. It may be remarked 

 in passing, that clergymen who had come to the colony in 

 this manner were by far the most efficient in the cause of 

 native Christianity. In 1712 there was a long correspon- 

 dence respecting these proponents. For four years running 

 they had been represented in the annual official letters as 

 still applying themselves to their studies. The Batavia con- 

 sistory, taking notice of the subject, enquired why they 

 were not ordained, and thus rendered more serviceable ; es- 

 pecially as representations had been made of the need of 

 additional ministers in Ceylon. The original object of their 

 having been sent out, which was understood to be, that in 

 connection with their studies they should be employed in 

 the seminary, was then inquired into, and the subject repre- 

 sented to Government; which terminated in an order that 

 the consistory should proceed with their ordinatiom when 

 one of them was immediately appointed as third minister 

 of Galle. Several instances are on record of young natives 

 having been selected for the ministry, and sent at the ex- 

 pense of Government to the Universities in Holland. After 

 completing their course and admission to holy orders, they 

 returned to Ceylon, preached both to their native brethren 

 and to the European congregation, and were in every res- 

 pect on the same footing with the other clergy, taking with 

 them an equal turn in all clerical duties and functions. 



Next follow the Native Proponents — These were for the 

 most part qualified in the Colombo Seminary ; and after 

 undergoing an examination before all the ministers of Co- 

 lombo, were appointed by Government to labour among 

 their countrymen. Their work was to preach on Sundays 

 at the various stations ^assigned them as their circuit ; to 

 catechize and examine candidates for admission into church 

 membership, as also those who had already made a confes- 

 sion of their faith ; to visit the families under their super- 

 vision, and by instruction, example and persuasion, to bring 

 their countrymen to the knowledge and reception of Chris- 

 tianity. They could not administer the sacraments, nor 

 receive any as church-members, but were answerable to the 

 clergymen or consistory in whose district they were em- 

 ployed, and to whom they were bound to furnish their peri- 

 odical reports. Even the sermons which they preached 

 were subject to inspection and approval. The method pur- 



s 



